28/2/2026 new digs in Kohimrama

For some reason I thought I needed from 0600hours,  to pack a bag that is really rather small in the grand scheme of things. Clearly I didn't need 4 hours to shower and pack a bag but my stupid brain told me I did. Needless to say I sat and twiddled my thumbs after I cleaned the motel room and waited for Morg to come and pick me up. We discussed my options last night, and we've made an executive decision that I'm probably not going to any more countries/or Islands on this trip. 

Morg totally gets it, he knows how exhausting the whole travel thing is and also knows that I've been trying to keep going to avoid thinking about the numerous anniversaries since arriving. Unfortunately I think the stress and emotion of it all has caught up with me and  I have most definitely crashed and burned. I've got  nothing left in the tank and I'm right out of spoons. I feel a bit of a failure to be honest, I had such big ideas when I came out and now I've made a decision to miss out on three of the Islands, there are a few reasons for it, the main one being I'm an old scaredy cat worried about getting caught up in a cyclone or a volcano, and potentially another earthquake.. It was always going to be a risk coming during the wet season, which is heavy on the cyclones. It's also not called the ring of fire for nothing! I will do the rest of them in the dry season, and hopefully it will be volcano , cyclone and earthquake free.  

The Tonga earthquake certainly frightened me despite not being particularly severe, and even though New Zealand is prone to them on a regular basis, I know the infrastructure here  recovers a lot quicker than any of the pacific islands.  I really don't fancy getting caught up and stranded on an Island that isn't  as well equipped as maybe I am used to in the first place.. The tonga experience, whilst eye opening, and educational, was a huge reality check. A lot of villages on the main Island don't have running water, there are islands that have no electricity, another one despite being 100 yards off the mainland has no bridge and the 50 people who live there can only get off it at low tide on flat bottom boats to get food and water. This is not an unusual occurrence on the Islands, and while if i was a bit more mobile, it may not be such a big issue, that along with the added stress is something i can just do without at the moment.

I hate feeling like such a failure again and a chicken to boot but it is what it is I guess. 

Having made the decision, the anxiety knot in my chest and stomach has eased a little bit, so that's a good thing I guess, and I'm hoping I can sleep a bit better now the decision is made. 

Morg arrived at 1000 to pick me up and I checked out of the Aarangi Motel. When I handed my key back Veronica wasn't around so I decided to book the motel online and get the points later on. We loaded everything into the truck and Morg and I went back to his house to drop my stuff off and peg out his laundry. Its a beautiful Sunny day, so his  bed sheets were getting pegged  on the  line before we went to breakfast 

We went to Glen Innes again for breakfast, and it didn't disappoint, and really was a great start to the day. Once we'd finished our brekkie, we went in search of a screen protector and new charger for my phone. The protector is wrecked from being taken on and off, to go into the underwater case and the charger is breaking  from being folded up for travelling. Do you think we could find either of those two items for a reasonable price? Could we heck! Disappointed, we went to the supermarket and  got some supplies before going back to Morgs.

We still had several hours before I could check in to my new accommodation, so I suggested we go to the cinema, which Morg thought was a good plan. He got his washing off the line as it was dry, and then we jumped in the truck and went to Sylvia Park. The traffic was horrendous, and we took over half an hour to get parked in the mall. That didn't impress Morg too much or me, but we finally went in. When we got to the cinema there wasn't anything either of us wanted to see, well not until later on, so we thought we'd see if we could get what i wanted in there . Unfortunately, again an epic fail, today was not our day for these things. Both of us were really frustrated and after having a starbucks which, after all the delicious coffees i’ve been having recently was actually pretty disgusting. We went back to pick up my stuff from Morgans and get me to the Kohiarama lodge for the next few days.

Still a bit early, we decided to go anyway, and when we arrived, Cheryl and Peter were just coming out of the door. Peter went back in and got the keys for me, and showed me to the lodge. This time I'm in Gatsby and whilst a similar layout to Hanoi it feels a bit smaller. The decor is very different too, but equally as quirky. They pay so much attention to detail in the Lodges and it just felt really nice to be back and settled for a few days. They also provide a delightful selection of goodies to get you through the first day or two, which is a really lovely touch.

Morg left to go and do some bits and pieces, I think he was a bit mummied out to be honest. Who can blame him? Not me, I know I'm blimming hard work. It was really nice and I was able to unpack my bag and have a really big sort out. A lot of the clothes I've been travelling in, are going in the bin, they are greatly discolored, and just all look disgusting. I’m also more than a bit sick of wearing the same clothes I’ve been in for the last few weeks.  

As I was finishing off my sorting out Cheryl came with more towels and stopped for ages to chat which was really nice. I was telling her where I'd been and what I'd been up to and she asked where I was off next. I explained my new plan to her and was delighted when she said to speak to Peter about staying here. It turns out that they have only one of their chalet/units advertised on the websites I use, which is why it was showing as unavailable when I checked. I went straight down to the office, and was super chuffed to discover I can stay here for the dates I haven't got anywhere . If I had known I could have stayed the whole of the remaining time here, which is annoying as I only booked somewhere this morning close to Morgan and unfortunately the other places I’ve booked are non refundable. . The place by Morg is half a house with a fully fitted kitchen and washing machine. It will be nice to have somewhere to stay for a few weeks instead of moving around. Although there is still a bit of it, at least it's not every few days. 

There is a  TV with sky and streaming services, so once I'd done the sorting out, I enjoyed a lovely shower, settled into the comfy chair, put the kettle on and settled in to watch the tattoo fixers. I know, random viewing choice, I had started to watch someone's Amazon account that they'd left logged on previously,  however when I was halfway through Madagascar and I got kicked out, I think they must have realized they'd left the account logged on. My brain was too tired to work out how to log mine in so I'll have to wait for Morg to do that for me tomorrow. 

After being kicked out of amazon, I divided it as time for bed, the bed was covered with cushions and pillows, which I bloody love, …. In a hotel, but loathe at home in my own house, they irritate me and Si beyond belief. I have no idea why.  The stained glass along the top of the bedroom wall has lights behind it and is really pretty at night.

So that's my Saturday, marginally more interesting than yesterday but still not what you could call riveting!  

Much Love

Mrs Leonard

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